Sheet handling clamp



Dec. 22, 1931. F. GASTA'N SHEET HANDLING CLAMP Filed June 11, 1951 INVENTOIR Patented Dec. 22, 1931 UNI ED s'r FRANK GASTAN, F TARENTUM, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR rorrrrsnunen m: 1

emss COMPANY, A CORPORATION or rEN svLvANIA SHEET HANDEL NGcLAMP Application filed .Tune 11,

The invention relates to asheet handling clamp. It is designed primarily to handle plate or window glass, but can be used toadvantage in carrying heavy plates of any kind.

It has for its objects the provision of a very simple construction which will apply a powerful gripping action to the faces of the sheet when a lifting force is applied to the handle of the device, such gripping action increasing with the weight of the sheet and the lifting force so that no slipping can occur regardless of the weight of the sheet. One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device in position of use upon a sheet of glass. Fig. 2 is a plan View. Fig. 3 is a side elevation with the parts in the position occu- Q0 pied when the device is first positioned upon the plate and preliminary to the application of clamping force. And Fig. 4 is a section on the line IVIV of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a sheet of 5 glass and 2 is a lifting device in position of use. This lifting device comprises a handle 3 and a fork consistingof the members 4, Lying between the members 4., 4 are a pair of clamping plates 5, 5 preferablyof sheet metal and each provided on its outer face with a pair of oppositely. inclined wedges 6, 7 and 6, 7 The inner faces of the plates are provided with resilient sheets 8, 8, such as rubber, to give a more secure grip upon the surface of the sheet 1 and in order to avoid marring the surface of such sheet. Each plate is provided with an outwardly projecting pin 9 which extends through the plate and which is threaded for a'short distance 4 back from its head. Nuts 10, 1O serve to secure the pins rigidly to the plates. The outer ends of the pins extend slidably through perforations 11, 11 in the forked members 4:, 4..

The pivot pins 9, 9 are located closer to 1931.- Serial No.; 543,557.

theright hand ends of the plates .8, 8'than to their-left hand ends so that the plates nor.- mally tilt in. a counterclockwise direction, the position indicated in Fig. 3,. atiwhich time the corners B of the plates engage the end of the handle, thus limiting their tilting movement. .At this time, the plates may be separated a maximum distance audit is in this position that the device is applied to the edge of the sheet to be lifted, as indicated in Fig. 3. A lifting movement-upon the handle now rotates the forks in acounterclockwise. direction around the. pivots 9, 9 so that the inner faces of the forks engage the wedge surfaces of the cam members 6, 6 and 7, 7, thus causing the plates to move toward each other and grip the glass therebes tween. 1 At this time, the deviceoccupies the position indicated in Fig. 1 and the greater the lifting force applied to the handle 3, the greater the camining force of thefork upon the members 6, 6 and 7, 7, so that the grip upon the plate is increased. with the weight ofsuch plate. A more secure engagement between the clamping plates and the glass plate is thus insured. I There is no danger of the plates slipping while being carried from one posit-ionto another by the clamping dev1ces..- 1

. The right hand ends of the plates 5, 5 are secured together by a flexible member 112, preferablyof leather, whose edges are-se curedto the plates by the wedges .7, 7 (held by the screws 13, 13. I This member 12 serves to square up, the clamping plates with re- .spect to the sheet 1 when the device] is first applied to the sheet (Fig 3), and make it possible for the operator to position and clamp the device with one hand, while the other hand engages the sheet to steady it. The/operator merely pushes in on the handle 3 and lifts'up on it. The member 12 thus held againsttheedge ofthe sheet prevents any upward-movement vofthe clamping plates while the handle is being raised at approach each other when the plates are rocked in one direction.

2. In combination in a sheet handling clamp, a handle having a forked end, a pair of clamping plates mounted in said end for movement toward and from each other and for limited rocking movement in a plane parallel to the faces of the plates, and cam means between the outer sides of the plates and the inner sides of the fork causing the plates to approach-each other when the plates are rocked in one direction.

3. In combination in a sheet handling clamp, a handle having a forked end, a pair of clamping plates pivoted intermediate their ends in said fork and movable toward and from each other, and a pair of wedge members on the outer side of each plate on opposite sides of their pivots, one of each pair of Wedges being inclined in one direction and one'of each pair in the opposite direction.

4:. In combination in a sheet handling clamp, a handle having a forked end, a pair of clamping plates pivoted intermediate their ends onpivots which are slidable end- Wise in the fork so that the plates are free to move toward and from each other, and a pair of wedge members on the outer side ofeach plate on opposite sides of their pivots, one of each pair of wedges being inclined in one direction and one of each pair in the opposite direction.

5. In combination in a sheet handling clamp, a handle having a forked end, a pair of clamping plates pivoted intermediate their ends in said fork and movable toward and from each other, and a pair of wedge members on the outer side of each plate on opposite sides of their pivots, one of' each pair of wedgesbeing inclined in one direction and one of each pair in the opposite direct-ion, and the pivots being so positioned With respect to the center of gravity of the plates that such plates will swing by gravity to a position permitting maximum separation thereof when the clamp is held in position of use.

6. In combination in a sheet handling clamp, a handle having a forked end, a pair of clamping plates mounted in said end for movement toward and from each other and for rocking movement in a plane FRANK GASTAN. 

